Lamp container



April 1952 D. e. MITCHELL 2,593,689

LAMP CONTAINER Filed Sept. 11, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l u V I9: i]

' I IE 4- INVENTOR. Do}; a A/ih'bell W A 171's 14f l'orney April 22, 1952 D. a. MITCHELL LAMP CONTAINER Filed Sept. 11 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Don aflfllz'bell B Y Al is Hil'orn ey April 22, 1952 D. s. MITCHELL 2,593,689

' LAMP CONTAINER Filed Sept. 11} 1946 3 SheetsSheet 3 5 IN V EN TOR. D011 6. Michell BY 62% wxwz Patented Apr. 22, 1%52 OFFICE LAMP CONTAINER Massachusetts Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,249

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-65) The present invention relates to the'packagin of fragile articles of merchandise such as electric light bulbs and the like, and more particularly to a type of container providing a handy package in which a few such articles, as would total the average retail purchase, may be carried with little possibility of breakage.

An object of the invention is to provide a readily foldable container for the purpose set forth to be made of sheet material, as paperboard; and supplied to the packager as flat stock.

To safely wrap articles of the character described, particularly light bulbs, requires time and skill and, even with the lamps housed in in dividual containers, ordinarily results in a package both bulky and clumsy.

The use of cartons has been suggested for packaging light bulbs but, heretofore, their construction and the necessary work involved in filling and sealing them has been too expensive a procedure where the purchase price of the contents is so small.

To overcome the above named problems of un satisfactory wrapping and excessive costs in the dealer-to-customer handling of a few light bulbs is a further object of the invention in the accomplishment of which a sheet of paperboard, having certain cut-outs and scored for convenient folding, provides both a wrapper, in that the bulbs are placed thereon and held spaced from each other in fixed position while the sheet isin fiat or but partly folded condition, and a package in the form of a knockdown carton which does not require the use of an adhesive or other fastening devices other than the lamps contained therein, the bases of one or-more of which cooperate in interlocking engagement with certain formations of the carton to hold it together.

In providing a carton of the character just above described a stillfurther object of the invention is accomplished which is the production of a package that can be opened to permit the removal of one or more bulbs and again closed and used as a container for the remaining bulbs or, with all bulbs removed, it can be again knocked down and its use as a carrier repeated.

And, another object of the invention is to provide a carton which may be filled and set up in quantities prior to sale, and havin provision whereby the wattage can be read and the lamps tested to the satisfaction of the purchaser without having to remove them from the package.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and forming a part of the specification are as follows:

Fig. 1 is the blank from which one embodiment of the invention is formed.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central section of a container folded up from the blank illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a modification ofthe cut-outs in one of the bottom wall forming panels.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the container seen in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in partly folded condition.

Fig. 6 is an end view of another modification of the invention showing a duplex container, one side thereof being closed and the other side partly closed.

' Fig. 7 is a top plan view, with both halves closed of the container seen in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail to be explained.

Fig. 10 is the blank for still another modification of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an end view of a container formed from a blank such as illustrated in Fig. 10 and including aseparate inserted spacer part of which is broken away.

And, Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line l2l2 of Fig. 11, the latter being drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 10 and 12.

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,vthere is shown a blank of sheet material, such as paperboard,- scored longitudinally along parallel lines 9-, 2,..3, and 4 thereby divided into rectangular panels 5, 6, i, 8, and 9 which, when the blank is folded along such score lines comprise the top, spaced side walls and overlapping bottom walls of a collapsible or knockdown container. One end of panel 6 and the opposite end of panel I are extended beyond the end edges of the other panels to provide sections l0 and I I, respectively, the blank being scored along lines l2 and [3 at right angles to the first named or longitudinally extending score lines and coincident with the end edges of the panels forming the top and bottom walls. These sections In and H are also scored along outer lines l4 and i5 parallel to their respective inner lines 12 and I3 to provide end flaps l6 and i1.

In the panels 6 and 1 area plurality of push-in flaps I8 which, in this instance, are of truncated triangular form, each scored along the shorter of 3. its parallel edges, as indicated by the dotted line IQ, for hinge connection with its respective panel, while the other three sides are formed by cutting through the material of the blank. The lines l9 are parallel to the scored or crease lines 12 and i3 and the flaps l8 are so relatively arranged that, when pressed inwardly on formation of the carton, those extending from one side wall will be staggered with respect to those extending from the opposing wall and together will provide regularly spaced hinged partition members for the lamp bulbs. Likewise a central portion is cut in the panel 5 of such conformation that, when bent outwardly along the broken line 28, provides a handle 2| in which are finger openings 22-. The illustrated shape of this handle is conventional. It may be of a diiferent design or, if preferable, the blank may be so cut as to provide a double handle.

From the foregoing it will readily be observed that a blank of the outline shown in Fig. 1 will, when bent along the creases indicated in dotted lines, form a carton rectangular in cross section and in which the top wall is indicated at 5, the opposing side walls at 6 and l, the overlapping bottom walls at 8 and S, and the end closures at I!) and H, the latter each being hingedly connected to a side wall and yieldingly held in place by its respective inturned end flap I6 or IT bearing against the inner face of the opposite side wall.

As hereinabove stated the particular purpose for which the invention is intended is to provide a handy package in which articles of merchandise, as incandescent lamp bulbs, may be separately supported in spaced relation to each other and individually removed without destruction of the package. To this end and, also, for the reasons stated that the carton may be loaded when in its knocked down or but partially closed condition, and the articles carried themselves functioning as cooperating means for sealing the package, thus making the use of an adhesive or other fastening devices unnecessary, the panels 8 and 9, and also 5, are provided with openings therethrough which are of a size and arrangement as will now be described. 1

The cartonillustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusiv is a container for five lamps which are shown as of standard make and including the usual bulb or glassenvelope 23 and base 24 having an externally rolled thread 25 and end contact member 25.

Three of the lamps are shown as supported in the bottom of the carton and the other two as suspended from the top .wall, all of the bulbs being regularly spaced in alignment with pushin flaps [8 between adjacent ones and with those in the top and bottom alternately arranged. To accommodate this arrangement, the panels 8 and 9, on center lines extending longitudinally thereof, and on centers opposite each other, have cut-outs 21, preferably circular holes which are of a diameter approximating that of the root of the base thread, the middle holes being at the longitudinal center of the panels and the others adjacent but at like distances from the end edges. Thus the cut-outs in the'two panels 8 and 9 are in axial alignment when the carton is closed. Two like cut-outs 27 are in the top panel 5 along its center line and located midway between the center and end holes of panels 8 and 9. In the top 5 and in the bottom panels :8 and 8 are sight openings 28, those in the top being on the same centersas the'openings 21 in the bottom or overlapping panels 8 and 9 while those in the latter are on the same centers as the top openings 21. Openings 28 in the end panels are seen to lie in pairs along lines perpendicular to score lines I, 2, 3 and 4 and sight openings28 in the end panels also lie in pairs along such perpendicular lines, openings 27 and 28 in the end panels occurring in alternation. Between each pair of openings 28 in center panel 5 an opening 21 appears, along the perpendicular line joining each pair of openings 28. Similarly an opening 28 is found in center panel 5 on the perpendiculars joining openings 21 in the end panel.

The bulbs are placed in the carton when in .its knockdown or but partly closed condition.

That is, with the push-in flaps l8 pressed inwardly'the bulbs to be supported by the bottom wall are placed on one of the panels 8 or 9 by having their bases threaded into or by slight end pressure forced through the openings 21. In like manner bulbs to be suspended from the top wall 5 have their bases 24 inserted through the top openings 21, the wall of each opening yielding sufrlciently to permit passage of a base 24 through the opening and then springing back to engage the root of the thread 25 and yieldingly hold the bulb against axial displacement. Shoulders 29 at the juncture of base 24 and diverging wall of envelope 23 by engaging the inner face of the adjacent carton wall limit movement of the bulbs when inserted in the openings 21 so that all bulbs are positioned alike. With the bulbs in place the side walls or panels 6 and l are swung toward each other on their hinge connections 2 and 3, and the free one or" the bottom panels flexed along the hinge connection with its side wall and snapped into position underlying the other bottom panel carrying the bulbs, the bases passing through the opening 2'! the edges of which lockingly engage the threads 25 thus sealing the package. Thereafter the end sections In and II are turned inwardly along their hinge connections 12 and I3 to provide end closures, the flaps I6 and H having been turned laterally along lines [4 and [5 to provide abutting surfaces engaging the inner faces of the side walls opposite the respective hinge connections of the end sections.

The sight openings 28 permit viewing of the wattage etched on the ends of the lamp bulbs and also are the visual means whereby one can determine whether or not the lamps light up when being-tested after being packaged, projection of the bases 24 through the walls of the carton permitting such test of the lamps to be made to the satisfaction of a customer without having to remove them from the carton.

In the modification-shown in Fig. 4 the lamp openings in one of the bottom panels, the underlying one when the carton is closed, are the circular inner ends of key slots 21* which at their outer ends are openings in the free edge of the panel. This construction would require less flexing of the panel along its hinge connection and permit its being slid into locking engagement with the thread on the bases 24 instead of being swung through an arc and snapped into place.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 there is shown a duplex container the blank of each half section of which is similar to the blank seen in Fig. 1 in that it is folded to form a top 30 hinged along its longitudinal edges to side walls 3| which at their bottom edges have hinge connection with panels 32 and 33. the latter engaging in overlapping relation to form the bottom wall of the carton section. In this instance the lamps, three being shown in each section, are carried by the bottom walls only, the panels 32 and 33 forming these Walls having cut-outs for receiving the bases 24 similar to the openings 2'! in Fig. 1, while in the top 30 axially aligned with the bottom openings are sight openings 28. I

The two half sections forming the duplex container are secured back to back, with a reinforcing panel 34 between them, by any suitable fastening means as staples or an,adhesive, such intermediate member having an upwardly extending central portion to provide a handle 35.

In the fragmentary sectional detail, Fig. 9 the inner side walls of the two half sections of a duplex container are secured directly to each other with the reinforcing member eliminated, a double handle being provided by portions 36 bent upwardly from the top panels 39. No pushin flaps or other spacing means are shown in the duplex container, the bulbs being spaced sufficiently far apart as not to require them.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 12 there is disclosed a still further modification of the invention in which a rectangular blank is scored along parallel transverse lines 31 to 42, inclusive, which, when folded along such score lines, form a carton as illustrated in Fig. 11. In this carton panel 43 becomes a comparatively narrow central top wall section in which there is an opening 21 for lockingly receiving the threaded base 24 of a singlelamp and articulates along lines 39 and 40 with downwardlydiverging outer top sections 44 and 45 which along lines 38 and 4| articulate with the top edges of opposite side panels 46 and 41, Similarly hinged to the bottom edges of the side panels are the end panels 48 and 49 which, when the carton is closed, form the overlapping sections of the bottom wall. In each panel 48 and 49 are a plurality of openings 21, those in one panel registering with those in the other and through which the bases 24 of the supported bulbs are inserted in the manner and for the same purpose as described with reference to Figs. 1 through 5. In this instance the bottom wall of the carton is designed to support four lamps regularly spaced in a circle concentric with the axis of the lamp suspended by the top wall 43.

As a protecting means for preventing the bulbs from striking each other when the carton is lifted by handle forming members 50 out out of the top wall sections 44 and 45 and articulating with the center section along lines 39 and 40, I have provided a spacer in the formof a sleeve 5| which, in the process of folding the carton is slipped over the center lamp suspended from the top section 43 so as to abut a pair of ears 52 formed in the material of the top sections 44 and 45 by die-cutting the handles 50 and .projecting outwardly in the plane of section 43, the sleeve resting upon the bottom wall of the carton. The spacer 51 may be a rectangular sleeve made of corrugated board, such as those now in use as containers for individual lamps. In using a sleeve of this character, the side walls act as bumpers between the center bulb and those surrounding it while the diverging side Walls provide flexible cushioning means functioning to hold the bottom wall supported bulbs properly centered in the respective openings 21 in which they are located.

What I claim is:

l. A package of electric light bulbs comprising a plurality of bulbs of the type having a base and an enlarged portion, a knockdown carton enclosing said enlarged portions, said carton having five panels including overlapping end panels both apertured and penetrated by the bases of certain of said light bulbs, the center panel of said five panels being apertured and penetrated by the bases of the others of said bulbs, the remaining panels of said five panels being arranged on opposite sides of the enlarged portions of said bulbs and having flaps struck out to provide sight openings for viewing the contained bulbs during tests, said flaps extending between adjacent ones of said bulbs, and a handle struck up from said center panel.

2. A package of electric light bulbs comprising a plurality of bulbs of the type having a base and an enlarged portion, a knockdown carbon enclosing said enlarged portions, said carton having ,five panels including overlapping end panels both apertured and penetrated by the bases of certain of said light bulbs, the center panel of said five panels being apertured and penetrated by the bases of the others of said bulbs, the remaining panels of said five panels being arranged on opposite sides of the enlarged portions of said bulbs and having flaps struck out to provide sight openings for viewing the contained bulbs during tests, said flaps extending between adjacent ones of said bulbs, a handle struck up from said center panel, and flaps on certain of said panels closing the ends of said package.

3. A blank of sheet material for packaging light bulbs of the type including an enlarged bulb portion and a threaded neck of smaller diameter, said blank including five panels divided by parallel score lines, perforations in the end panels and in the center panel of said five panels, the perforations in the end panels being aligned and alternating with the perforations in the center panels, said perforations being no larger than is required to snugly receive the threaded necks of said' bulbs, flaps struck out of and connected by a score line to the two panels between the end panels and the center panel, and a handle struck from and connected to said center panel.

4. The method of packaging a plurality of electric light bulbs which includes providing a blank of paperboard divided by parallel score lines into panels which when the blank is folded along said score lines constitute the top, side walls, and overlapping sections of a double bottom wall of a knockdown carton, inserting the threaded bases of the bulbs through regularly spaced openings in one of said bottom wall forming sections, which openings are of a size to engage the root of the threads, inserting the base of at least one other bulb in a like opening in the top wall forming panel and arranged midway between two adjacent openings in said bottom bulb supporting section, folding the blank to form a carton surrounding the bulbs, and then secur-.

ing the carton against collapsing by forcing the outer one of said bottom wall sections, also apertured, into removable locking engagement over the projecting threaded bases of the bulbs engaging through the inner one oi the bottom wall sections.

5. The method of packaging a plurality of electric light bulbs as recited in claim 4 and including the insertion in the partly closed carton, after attaching the bulbs to the blank, of yieldable spacing means to prevent adjacent bulbs from striking each other in the carton and during the folding thereof.

6. A package of electric light bulbs comprising a plurality of bulbs of the type having a. threaded base and an enlarged portion, a knockdown car ton enclosing said enlarged portion, said carton having five panels including overlapping end panels having openings of a size to engage the root diameter of said threaded bases and penetrated by the bases of certain of said light bulbs, the center panel of said five panels having openings penetrated by the bases of the others of said bulbs, the remaining panels of said five panels being arranged on opposite sides of the enlarged portions of all said bulbs, a sight opening struck in said carton adjacent each of said bulbs, and a handle extending fromv said center panel.

DON G. MITCHELL.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Willets Mar. 2, 1915 Beach Aug. 12, 1919 'Potter June 22, 1920 Einson May 22, 1928 Gangler Sept. 11, 1928 Malcolmson Mar. 31, 1981 Everhart L July 10, 1934 Kells Mar. 16, 193'] Rogers Mar. 21, 1944 Vineberg Oct. 23, 1945 Bob Sept. 24, 1946 

